Record numbers of Scots jetting to New York to do their Christmas shopping have given the country's airports a boost.

Flights to the Big Apple from Edinburgh and Glasgow have soared to the highest level on record this winter, as shoppers take advantage of the weak dollar to pick up festive bargains.

Airport operators BAA said the number of passengers was up 15 per cent over October and November this year, compared to the same period last year. That is around 50,000 more people heading to New York. A total of 300,000 flew from Scotland to the city over the past 12 months.

A spokesman for BAA, which operates Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen Airports, said: "The combination of a weak dollar, a strong pound and the lure of New York in general, has proved too much to resist for many people.

"It is the most popular route in Scotland and has been for some time.

"There is an affinity to the US with historical and family connections.

"Now we are coming into the sales period and there are fantastic bargains to be had as well."

One direct flight a day goes from Edinburgh, and one from Glasgow, with the routes operated by Continental Airlines.

And Scots shoppers are not just looking to the US for Christmas gifts. All international flights were up 12.5 per cent in November compared to the same time last year, BAA said.

Shopping capital Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is increasingly popular and new routes to Spain, France, Portugal and Egypt are also attracting bargain hunters.

A large part of the increase was enjoyed by Edinburgh Airport, which saw its international traffic rise by 31.2 per cent year-on-year.

This is a rise of only 0.2 per cent year-on-year, as domestic flights continue to fall. Edinburgh was Scotland's busiest airport in November, with almost 700,000 passengers.

Stephen Baxter, chairman of BAA Scotland, said 2007 had been "a remarkably successful year for our airports, with record passenger numbers, an expanding route network and a massive capital investment plan".